Dear Senior Advocate:
We are expecting additional federal cuts to our
local senior programs. The cuts are a
result of sequestration that is taking place at the federal level. These cuts are smaller than previous cuts but
will still take another bite out of programs that are already strained. Because these cuts are permanent, we have to
make permanent changes.
When we receive final notice of these cuts, we will begin
the process of making adjustments. One
of the changes will require us to defund some nutrition sites that have been
accustomed to our Older Americans Act (Title III) funding. As a result, some sites will either close or
have to convert to another funding stream, like the Community Expansion for
Nutrition Assistance (CENA) grant. We
will start with Title III sites that are currently serving fewer than 25 meals
per day. Currently, the nutrition sites
at Geronimo and Cement are in danger of losing Title III funding.
While we do not anticipate reductions in the
state-funded CENA grant, we will see more senior centers using the grant and it
will be further strained.
We will do our best to keep you advised. I will, upon request, come to your senior
center and give a presentation about these cuts and other factors impacting
senior services. I will also be happy to
provide a question and answer session.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.
Also, we send out a regular e-newsletter called the
ASCOG Advocate. If you wish to receive
this, please email me your request at jone_ke@asocg.org.
Director
Supportive
Services Division
Association
of South Central Oklahoma Governments
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